Crawfish | |||||||||||||||
アメリカザリガニ Amerika-zarigani | |||||||||||||||
![]() | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Location | Price | ||||||||||||||
Holding Pond | 250 Bells (AC, AFe+, WW, CF) 200 Bells (NL) | ||||||||||||||
Size | Shadow size | ||||||||||||||
4.8 in. 13 cm | Small | ||||||||||||||
Time of year | Time of day | ||||||||||||||
April to September 15th | All day | ||||||||||||||
Scientific name | Procambarus clarkii | ||||||||||||||
Family | Cambaridae - Crayfish sup.Astacoidea | ||||||||||||||
Appearances | AC, AFe+, WW, CF, NL | ||||||||||||||
Rarity | Common (✭) | ||||||||||||||
Regional names | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
- "I caught a crawfish! Watch those pinchers!" —New Leaf
The crawfish is a common "fish" (actually a crustacean) found in the holding pond between the months of April to the middle of September. It is one of the four holding pond fish, the other three being the frog, tadpole, and killifish. It has the largest attraction radius to the bait of all fish species in game[citation needed], even performing 180 degree turns to reach the bait. In recent games, as the holding pond's size has been increased, the attraction has lowered slightly and the need to perform difficult maneuvers with the fishing rod in order to reach the "fish" is not as high.
Donating to the museum
As with all fish caught in Animal Crossing series, the crawfish can be donated to the museum in each game by talking to Blathers, who will also give some information on it.
In Animal Crossing
Upon donation, Blathers the curator will say:
"This diminutive fellow is a relative of the lobster. Its pincers are small, but distressingly powerful, wot? Indeed, it delights in a little pinchy-pinchy, eh wot? We'll take pains to ensure our mutual safety."
In Wild World
Upon donation, Blathers the curator will say:
"You'll find these little fellows in many pots across the southland, I imagine. I've personally never sampled one. They look rather... insect-ish. Blech."
In City Folk
Upon donation, Blathers the curator will say:
"...I don't do particularly well when around crawfish. I mean, really. Look at it. It's like a wretched insect! And those legs... Did you notice all those wiggly legs? All the better to revolt me. Hoo, and the vulgar belly, all segmented and buglike. Absolutely abhorrent!"
It can be found in the middle-left tank in City Folk.
In New Leaf
In New Leaf, an information board in the aquarium will list information about this fish.
"These shrimp relatives are usually found in ponds and rivers, typically making them easy to catch. The reason for this strange habitat is that crawfish are plentiful and will eat just about anything. Eating plant material makes their bodies red, but only eating fish and meat will turn their bodies blue. A red color indicates they are eating a healthy and balanced diet, so red is the ideal for the species."
Capture quotes
- "I caught a crawfish! Check out those pincers!" —Animal Crossing
- "I caught a crawfish! Stick that in your craw!" —Wild World
- "I caught a crawfish! Don't pinch me!" —City Folk
Encyclopedia information
Wild World
Fish
| Encyclopedia Information
| |
![]() | "When threatened, they cut their legs off, but these grow back when they molt." | |
Size | 4.7 inches | |
Habitat | Ponds | |
Season | Spring and summer | |
Icon | ![]() |
City Folk
Fish
| Encyclopedia Information
| ||||||||
![]() |
|
New Leaf
Fish
| Encyclopedia Information
| ||||||||
![]() |
|
Gallery
Further information

A real life crawfish.
Procambarus clarkii, the red swamp crawfish, is one of the three large freshwater crawfish. Whilst this species is popular amongst children in Japan, it is in fact an introduced, non-native species, having been accidentally released into the wild in the 1920s. Now, it is contributing to the decline of native species of crawfish.